It’s been nearly half a year since I posted a trailer on this site, but as a longtime fan of Superman, I knew I had to do a post about James Gunn’s SUPERMAN (retitled from Superman Legacy). Plus this drops as I’m feeling under the weather as I’ve had a cold for over a week now, hence I’m slow in posting stuff. So this gives me a jolt of excitement today!

This movie kicks off a fresh DC Universe now that Gunn has been at the helm of DC Studios with producer Peter Safran since 2022. It’s only fitting to start with the ultimate superhero and this dialogue-lite teaser packs quite an emotional punch.

Though I hadn’t been religiously following all the updates on this movie, my interest was piqued when Gunn revealed the motion poster with a slowed-down version of John Williams’ theme.

So here are 10 thoughts/takeaways I have from the trailer:

1 ) I like the hopeful vibe, focusing on the benevolence and kindness of the Kryptonian hero, instead of the brooding, angsty version of Zack Snyder. Glad to see DC letting go of the somber tone and embracing a sunnier outlook, after all, Superman derives his strength from the sun!

It’s an interesting dichotomy that a trailer about the strongest superhero ever begins with a bleeding and broken Superman… “We do have a battered Superman at the beginning, and I think that is our country,” Gunn is quoted at a press event by Deadline.

Seeing a vulnerable Superman who needs help makes him slightly more relatable. He’s not always in the ‘indestructible’ mode, even though we know when the sun rises, he’ll likely get his power back.

2) David Corenswet looks pretty good as Superman (I mean, my definitive Superman shall always be Christopher Reeve and I doubt anyone could top him). One thing I notice is he’s got kind eyes and patience as well as restraint in dealing with a fickle crowd. He’s shown as turning the other cheek when someone in the crowd throws a can at him.

3) Lookie there! It’s Krypto the Superdog!! I never got around to watching the episode in Smallville where Krypto makes an appearance so this is the first time I’ve seen the super-dog on screen. Supes’ furry friend reminds me so much of Tintin’s loyal canine companion Snowy. Apparently, Krypto is inspired by Gunn’s own rescue dog Ozu.

4) I like the casting of Rachel Brosnahan as Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane. I watched the first season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and she’s got the look and spunk that’s perfect for the role. As this movie isn’t an origin story, looks like Lois knows Clark Kent’s real identity, hence we see her kissing both Clark and Superman in various clips. I hope to see Lois given more to do here, as I always thought that as a successful female journalist in a major news agency, Lois is as much an aspirational figure as the man of steel himself.

5) What’s with the mop head of hair on Clark Kent though? It made him look like Noah Centineo [shrug] I mean he’s not as dweeby as Reeve’s version of Clark but he seems to have that nervous mannerism down. I’d like to see a more playful side of Clark, as we barely get to see that in the gloomy Syder’s version.

6) Hello Hot Lex! 😍 Nicholas Hoult is clearly the most gorgeous actor to play Lex Luthor. He’s also the only actor who can portray both characters convincingly. His dapper look with a gun reminds me of Hitman: Agent 47, ahah. I’m probably most excited to see him as Luthor here and his eventual meet-up with Superman.

Per Digital Spy, Hoult doesn’t see him as an evil super-villain (as most actors would whenever they play a baddie) “… even though you perhaps don’t agree with his process, there’s an element where you can understand on some levels where he’s coming from and why what he’s pushing as his ideology is perhaps better for humanity,”

7) Unlike the previous Superman movies, the universe Gunn’s Superman inhabits is already filled with non-human creatures with superpowers. Gunn is used to handling a ragtag group like this where a team with very different personalities and abilities have to work together for a mission, from The Guardians of the Galaxy to The Suicide Squad. Still, I’d be curious to see how these characters would work out alongside (or against) Superman.

Most notably, there’s Nathan Fillion‘s Earth-based Green Lantern called Guy Gardner, sporting blonde Anton Chigurh’s bowl cut. I spot Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl and Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific. I can’t wait to see Wendell Pierce as Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White, and what cameo role Christopher Reeve’s son Will Reeve will play.

8) I was left scratching my head in this scene of Superman looking to be mourning a destroyed droid (that looks like K-2SO from Star Wars Rogue One. After some googling, I found out that it could be Kelex, a servant droid from Krypton who eventually took on the role of caretaker at the Fortress of Solitude. I think of it as a droid version of Batman’s Alfred. Looks like things will get personal as one of his nemesis, likely Lex, will go after Superman’s home and those close to him. Earlier in the scene we also see Clark with his earthly dad, Jonathan Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince) at their farmhouse.

9) Amidst all the chaos and explosions, this scene of a young boy in a war zone holding a makeshift flag with Superman’s emblem on it… followed by a close-up of the boy calling his name. Nice to see Superman back as a figure who stands for Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow (DC has revised it from the original comic-book motto ‘The American Way’ to be more globally-minded).

10) Overall, I’m optimistic about Gunn’s vision for Superman… he seems to get the balance right of Superman as a beacon of hope who cares for humanity, but also the more relatable side of him as someone who can get hurt, overwhelmed with sadness but also being in love. 💕

This floating kiss gives me all the feels… it seems this Lois is a romantic interest as well as an ally in Superman’s journey.

---

Superman will fly into theaters on July 11, 2025.

---

What do you think of this trailer? Let me know your thoughts!

///